2008 Woodie Awards
Civil War
Alex Vallejo
Issue date: 9/27/06 Section: Opinion
As pundits, politicians and Americans in general debate whether "we should stay the course" (actually, I believe the new slogan that conservatives are using is, "adapt and win"), or "cut-and-run," (as those "yellow-bellied-let's-hand-the-country-over-to Al Qaeda" Democrats want-insert sarcasm here) in Iraq, a couple of questions sit uncomfortably in the backburner:
Will Iraq succumb into chaos, and civil war? Will the different religious, tribal and ethnic factions get caught in an out-of-control tailspin that will crash-land the
once-prosperous nation into an even bloodier war? The answer to these questions is simple and stark: the civil war has already begun.
My fellow Americans, I say it's time to wipe the drool from our chins and examine the facts.
First, let's define exactly what a "civil war" is (besides an oxymoron). According to Webster's online dictionary a civil war is defined as, "a war between opposing groups of citizens of the same country."
With that definition in mind, let's examine some of the headlines: "On Another Grim Day, Bodies Lie Everywhere in Baghdad" (New York Times September 14, 2006), "47 Bodies Found Around Baghdad" (CNN Online September 16, 2006), "Sunni/Shiite Fighting Continues with 53 Killed on Thursday" (Los Angeles Daily News September 1, 2006), and "More Sunni-Shiite Clashes are Reported in Baghdad" (San Jose Mercury News August 29, 2006) to name a few.
So let's see if the Sunni-Shiite conflict falls under the definition of "civil war":
1) Opposing groups (check)
2) Same country (check)
3) Said groups fighting and killing each other (double check).
My God! Ladies and gentlemen we have ourselves a textbook definition of a "civil war."
And yet, the vast majority of analysts and main stream media outlets are still pondering the possibility that Iraq might be
propelled into civil war. Here's a choice sample from an opinion piece that appeared in The Arizona Republic: "I hear a lot about the major strife between Sunnis and Shiites in and around Baghdad.
Pundits seem eager to claim that it is indicative of civil war. When I hear about similar conflicts in the smaller cities, towns and rural areas I will be willing to believe there really is an "Iraqi civil war" (Arizona Republic September 1, 2006).
That's like looking at a building that is engulfed in flames and saying, "I can see the flames and the smoke, but unless the entire city is set ablaze there's no fire." The Iraq civil war has begun, the only question remaining is: when will it end?
Will Iraq succumb into chaos, and civil war? Will the different religious, tribal and ethnic factions get caught in an out-of-control tailspin that will crash-land the
once-prosperous nation into an even bloodier war? The answer to these questions is simple and stark: the civil war has already begun.
My fellow Americans, I say it's time to wipe the drool from our chins and examine the facts.
First, let's define exactly what a "civil war" is (besides an oxymoron). According to Webster's online dictionary a civil war is defined as, "a war between opposing groups of citizens of the same country."
With that definition in mind, let's examine some of the headlines: "On Another Grim Day, Bodies Lie Everywhere in Baghdad" (New York Times September 14, 2006), "47 Bodies Found Around Baghdad" (CNN Online September 16, 2006), "Sunni/Shiite Fighting Continues with 53 Killed on Thursday" (Los Angeles Daily News September 1, 2006), and "More Sunni-Shiite Clashes are Reported in Baghdad" (San Jose Mercury News August 29, 2006) to name a few.
So let's see if the Sunni-Shiite conflict falls under the definition of "civil war":
1) Opposing groups (check)
2) Same country (check)
3) Said groups fighting and killing each other (double check).
My God! Ladies and gentlemen we have ourselves a textbook definition of a "civil war."
And yet, the vast majority of analysts and main stream media outlets are still pondering the possibility that Iraq might be
propelled into civil war. Here's a choice sample from an opinion piece that appeared in The Arizona Republic: "I hear a lot about the major strife between Sunnis and Shiites in and around Baghdad.
Pundits seem eager to claim that it is indicative of civil war. When I hear about similar conflicts in the smaller cities, towns and rural areas I will be willing to believe there really is an "Iraqi civil war" (Arizona Republic September 1, 2006).
That's like looking at a building that is engulfed in flames and saying, "I can see the flames and the smoke, but unless the entire city is set ablaze there's no fire." The Iraq civil war has begun, the only question remaining is: when will it end?
Be the first to comment on this story